Today we are invited to the observance of a holy Lent.
A season set apart, a holy time.
How will we hallow these days?
We hear of creation falling, of humanity falling, of being a fallen person, of falling into sin.
How do we fall into sin? A slow decline, degree by degree? A sudden collapse and surrender, a weak moment that we never recover from?
It sounds almost like we don’t really know what we are doing or the full consequences. Almost by accident, but not quite, we can’t help ourselves.
Falling into sin.
How do we stop doing that? Not just the big attention getting sins, but the deeper, petty every day sins that wear us down, slowly forgetting and losing our capacity for joy and thanks and reaching out, for seeing the beauty in others.
We don’t hear so much about falling out of sin, about falling into grace, about stumbling upon the Almighty God.
Sin makes for bigger headlines, it grabs the attention, the shame, the pointing of the finger, the pain, the blood. Why our fascination with sin? It’s ultimately the same old thing over and over, boring and repetitive. Old news.
But recovering from sin, doesn’t get so much attention. Few headlines.
Rather a different harsher judgment. How dare they think they can start over! Who do they think they are? Do they think they are better than everyone else?
Are they judging us now that they have given up on our evil ways?
Misery loves company and does not relinquish its company willingly.
Recovering sinners. That is who we are. Sinners in recovery, struggling to hallow our days, to fall out of sin and into the cutting and uncompromising grace and mercy of God.
So.
The right beginning of repentance.
Marking our mortal nature. We are dying. Our days are numbered.
Falling out of sin.
How will we hallow these days?